This is the public policy forum of Minneapolis Second Ward (Green) City Council Member Cam Gordon and his staff. We use this space to talk about some of what Cam’s working on, explain his positions, and share a little of what life in City Hall is like. Please feel free to comment on posts, within certain ground rules. See our disclaimer, including ground rules, here: http://secondward.blogspot.com/2006/05/disclaimer.html#links

Monday, June 22, 2009

A Thank you email from 311

Every so often (and on a pretty regular basis actually) we get emails about what a good job some City staff person has done. Frequently these are about our police or fire department.

This compliment was emailed into 311 and it was such a touchy and dramtic storyI wanted to share it with you.

"HelloMy name is Sally Smith and I wanted to take the time to let you know ofmy gratitude towards the firemen of station #2, and Raul Ramos of station#11.

Some men from Station #2 were grocery shopping on Memorial day when mydaughter Madeline, she’s 2, and I were shopping at Rainbow Foods at TheQuarry. Although she’s had probably HUNDREDS of grapes, she was munchingon some in the cart when I was pushing her around the store, and shestarted to choke on one. I did all that I remembered from mylifeguarding days 20 years ago to get that grape out, but no go. I turnedand basically threw Maddy into the arms of a fireman who was shopping inour aisle I later found out this was Raul Ramos from station 11 who wasworking for someone from station 2. He tried everything to no avail, thatgrape was stuck. But because he and the others were there, he hit somecall button on his hip and about 12 firemen came running to our spot.

Some others tried the Heimlich, etc. I think one persons name was Matt Maynothing was helping. She was turning blue and losing consciousness.Thankfully because the firemen were there, 911 was called prettyimmediately when it first happened, so an HCMC ambulance was there withinminutes. Of course to me this all seemed to take hours, but I guess itwas less than 5 minutes! But at the end, we were up and running to theambulance, Maddy in the arms of a lifelink ambulance crew that ALSOhappened to be shopping in the store.

By the grace of God the paramedic was able to pull that grape out with onepull with the McGill forceps which I will never forget the name of!.Maddy coughed, then cried….it was the best sound I have ever heard.

I have since talked to Raul and someone named John from station #2 andthanked them, but I thought someone higher up should know of ourgratitude. We spent the night in HCMC since Fran did have some pulmonaryedema, but were home the next day and I doubt she remembers a thing! She’sas sassy as ever, and has even had grapes again although I will admit,they were cut up into such small pieces it was practically grape soup!.

But I just want someone to know that these men were wonderful and I am sothankful. Raul did not hesitate a second, he grabbed Frannie and threwher upside down, hit her back, tried to sweep it, etc. Other firementhere were telling me that she was crying a bit, so she was getting someair, and it was okay...and because they said it, I felt it. I know I waspanicking, VERY much panicking...and I was crying and begging and yellingat these guys to do something! And through it all they were doingeverything they could with calmness, support and skill. In our eyes thesemen are heroes even though they were not the ones to pull the grape out,and it was not a fire they were in the middle of.

My family, which includes my husband and our 10 month old son,along with Madeline, are beyond grateful and thankful to these men. I amproud to live in such a city where these firemen exist. I feel saferknowing they exist. You should be VERY proud too.Again, thank you does not seem enough. But...thank you."